Tone-producing toy



April 23, 1929. v, D COSTA 1,709,841

TONE PRODUCING TOY Filed Aug. 4, 192 7 \nvenTor.

ArThurV DaCosTabywwkw ATTyS.

Patented Apr. 23.1929

UNITED STATES ARTHUR VINCENT 11A COSTA, 3F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

TONE'PRODUCING TOY.

Application filed August 4, 1927. Serial No. 210,671.

This invention relates to improvements in toys and the principal objectof the invention is to provide a toy adapted to produce a noise whenmoved from its normal stable position of rest.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toy of this characterpresenting a surface adapted normally to rest upon a flat support withsubstantially a single point or line of contact therewith, such, forexample, as a curved, preferably spheroidal or spherical base.

In its preferred form the toy is in the form of a hollow spherical shellhaving a pneumatic tone-producing device with actuating means capable ofa limited free movement in any direction and operable to produce a tonewhen displaced from its normal stable position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a base or shoulder forthe tone-producing device which is homogeneously united to the hollowcasing, thereby providing a structure in which the tone-producing devicewill not become detached from the casing by rough usage.

Other objects and features of the invention will more fully a pear fromthe following description an the accompanying drawing and will beparticularly described in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a hollow sphere containin apneumatically operable tine-producing device;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal transverse sectional view through Fig. 1substantially diametrically thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view, similar to, Fig. 1, illus trating the spherical shellmoved in one di-- rection from stable position and showing the positionof the pneumatically operable tone-producing device in operativeposition; and,

Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating the shell displaced from itsnormal stable position in the opposite direction from that shown in Fig.3. r

While the casing for the tone-producing device may be of any desirableform which is so constructed as to permit the device to rest upon a flatsurface when in stable position with a single point or line of contacttherewith, the preferred form of casing desirably is of spherical orspheroidal form.

As illustrated herein the casing is in the form of a hollow shellcomprising a hemlspherical base section 1 and a complemem taryhemispherical cover section 2 with the edges of the sections telescopingslightly. Desirabl'y these casing sections are formed of anitrocellulose composition, such as celluloid, and; when assembled arehomogeneously secured together by causing the overlapping and contactingsurfaces of the sections to be partially liquefied by a suitable solventsuch as ethyl alcohol, acetone, and the like.

The tone-producing device is somounted in the hollow shell as to beinoperative when the device is in a stable position, but is adapted toproduce a tone by movement from the stable position in any direction.

In the preferred construction 'shown in the drawing the sound-producingdevice is contained in a cylindrical casing having a cylindrical basalsection 3 provided with a spherically convexperipheral edge 4 whichconforms to the spherical curvature of the inner wall of the basesection 1 of the shell, and is secured homogeneously thereto by theapplication to the spherical peripheral edge 0 said casing, or to theinterior of the shell, or both, of a suitable solvent for the materialof the shell. Thus the casing. of the tone-producing device and theshell is made practically integral and the danger of separation of suchparts, which might occur if the same weremerely secured together by glueor cement, is avoided.

The casing for the tone-producing device as shown has a cylindrical wall5 concentric with and engaging the wall 2 of -the base section and acover 6 having ,a flange 7 engaging the cylindrical wall 5.These'members of the container. for the tone-producing device may besuit bly secured together in any desired manner. The cover desirably isprovided with apertures 8 to permit ac cess of air to the interior ofthe casing of.

the tone-producing device and the upper section of the shell desirablyis also provided with suitable apertures 9 to permit air to enter intoand escape from the chamber of I the shell. I p

The tone-producing device comprises an impervious bellows 10, preferablyofrubber or rubberized fabric, having a lower outer extension or flap 11which is located between the walls 3 and 5 and secured thereto bysuitable cement. The opposite edge of the bellows is provided with acylindrical extension or flange 12 which is clamped between thecylindrical periphery of a preferably metallic upper wall 13 of thebellows and a complementary circumferential flange of a weight 14. Theweight 1 is provided with a central aperture 15 and the wall 13 also isprovided with a smaller aperture 16 in which a tone-producing reed 17 ismounted. The bottom wall 18 of the casing for the tone-producing memberdesirably forms the lower wall of the bellows. The diameter of the wall13 and weight 14 is considerably less than the diameter of the casing 5so that the tone-producing device is capable of a limited free movementin any direction when the spherical shell is moved from its stableposition as, for example, when it is rolled along a floor.

When the device is in the stable position the bellows will lie collapsedupon the base 18, as illustrated in Fig. 1. \Vhen, however, thespherical casing is moved from such stable position, as when rolledalong the floor, the weighted upper wall of the bellows will move bodilyfrom its normal stable position, thereby opening the bellows, as i1-lustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, thus causing the air to rush through theapertures 15 in the weight and 16 in the wall of the bellows and andthat various change in "form, construc- I by Letters Patent, is:

bellows out through said aperture, thereby actuating the reed.

Any suitable type of reed may be eni-c ployed, but preferably one isprovided which;

will produce a tone similar to a babys cry. Such a deviceis particularlyattractiveto children, .as, when it isrolled along. the floor,

a succession; of baby cries is produced.

It will be understood that theembodiment of the invention disclosedherein is ofan illustrative'character and is not: restrictive tion andarrangement of parts may bemade within the spirit and scope ofthe-claims.

It will also be understoodg that various other forms of tone-producing,devicesmay be employed within the. meaning .andscope of the claims. a

Having thus described. the invention, what is claimed as new, anddesired tobe secured 1. A toy c ompr1 s1ng a." spheriodal shell formedoiigrigid, but solublea pneumatically operable sound-producing deviceenclosed therein with a base of like material having a sphericallyconvex peripheral edge homogeneously united to said shell and a bellowsconnected to .said base having a weighted wall provided with an aperturecontaining a reed.

3. A toy comprising a substantially spherical shellcomprising a hemis'iherical base section and a complementary hemispherical cover sectionwith overlapping edges homogeneously secured to ether a. neumaticall oierable tone-i l producing device within sa d, shell compr1s- 'ing acylindrical casing provided with 'a spherically convex peripheral baseedge homogeneously united to the base portion of said shell and abellows secured to the base of said, cylindrical casing having .a

weighted top wall of less-diameter than that of said cylindricalcasingprovided with an aperture having a reed therein.

41. A toy comprising a hollow spherical shell, atone-producing devicetherein at one side of its mid point having a flexible bellows connectedat one. end to said shell and provided atitsother. end with a weightedaperhollow apertured tured-wall acting by gravitywhen moved-by rotationof the shell from apredetermined stable position to restore the shelltostable position and areed in-the, aperture operable'during themovement towardv stable-porsltion to produce a tone.

5. -A toy comprising a shellhavingan outerconvexly curved surface, .atone-producing device within said shell comprising a weight movable todifferent positions relative. to the ,shellupon a rocking. or,rollingmovement thereof in any one of a plurality of difi'e fent'r 115-means associated. with-said member and-.op.-.-v ,erated by moviement ofsaid ,weight to force. i air to vibrate, said member to produce a tone.2'

6...,A toy= comprising. a shell having a I .rounded supporting outersurface, a :tone

intersecting planes, a vibratory member, and

producing device including a V readily yieldable element attached to theinner surface'zfl of the shell to onesideofzits mid .poinui through theshell, a sound-producing..mem.f--. ..ber positioned to beaflt'ectedbymovementof said element, and a weight, conneetedtorefieet amovementpf said element when the shell is tippedfr om.a given position,and return said shell tostable positionn .7, A toy comprising ashell-having a said element when the shell is rolled from its stableposition on its base, said weight also serving to roll this shell backto such stable position.

8. A toy comprising a shell having an outer convexly curved surface, atone-producing device within said shell comprising a weight movable todifferent positions relative to the shell upon a rocking or'rollingmovement thereof in any one of a plurality of different planes, :1.vibratory member, and a bellows associated with said member andconnected to said weight and operable by a movement of the weight toforce air to vibrate said member and produce a tone.

9. A toy comprising a shell having an outer convexly curved surface, atone-producing device within said shell comprising a weight movable todifferent positions relatlve to the shell 11 on a rocking or rollingmovement thereo to operate said device, said weight being positloned atone side of the mid point of the shell to tend to roll the shell back tocause a given single point or line on its surface to contact with itssupport.

10. A toy comprising a shell having an outer convexly curved surface, atone-producing device Within said shell comprising a'weight movable todifferent positions relative to the shell upon a rocking or rollingmovement thereof in any one of a plurality of different planes, meansfor guiding the movement of said weight, a vibratory member, and meansassociated With said member and operated by movement of said weight toforce air to vibrate said member and produce a tone.

11. A toy comprising a shell having an outer convexly curved surface, atone-producing device within said shell'comprising a flattened weightmovable relative to said shell, guiding means loosely surrounding saidweight for generally directing its movement but permitting theinclination of said weight to said guide in any one of a plurality ofdifferent planes, a vibratory mem-' ber, and means associated with saidmember and operated by a movement of said weight to force air to vibratesaid member and produce a tone.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ARTHUR VINCENT DA COSTA.

